[Albion](https://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/albion/) will give Ben Barclay any help he wants to break into coaching.
But under-21s boss Shannon Ruth expects his senior professional to keep the focus on playing this season.
Barclay, who came through what was then the Seagulls' under-23s set-up with players including Ben White and Viktor Gyokeres, is back at the club.
He is playing and training with the under-21s as an over-age squad member.
Barclay was most recently with Carlisle and, at 28, can pass on advice to youngsters around him.
He played in both the recent friendlies against Portsmouth and Whitehawk.
Ruth told The Argus: “We had the over-age role with Andrew Crofts and Gary Dicker.
“They were transitioning from player to coach and that role was effective for us.
“We didn’t take up the option of that role for a little period of time.
“We just felt with the age of our under-21 group, also the age of our first team, because our squads are getting younger and we wanted to make sure we could put our young players on a crash course.
“Ben being a previous academy player and someone I know really well really fitted the bill in terms of where he was at his career.
“His journey, joining us from Man City and then the 100-odd league games he had, he was a really good person to come in and train every day and play when called upon to help our players get even more ready for senior football.”
Asked whether Barclay will move into coaching, Ruth said: “He will do eventually.
“Certainly for the first year, he will be predominantly a player.
“But I am sure as he gets further towards the back end of his career we will help him with his coaching.”
The under-21s open their competitive season next Tuesday when they go to Aldershot in the National League Cup.